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God is in the Roots
The etymology of words is often revealing. I especially enjoy looking at the roots of the words we commonly use in our day to day conversations and interactions with each other. I recently did a study of the word "good-bye."
First, since many of the roots of the English language are in found in the romantic languages (Latin, Spanish, French, etc.) let us look there. The Spanish equivalent of good-bye is adios and the French adieu. The actual root-parts of both of these words are ad (with or to) + dios (God). In other words 'be with God' or "God be with you." It is an explicit wish that the person should be in the care of God.
It should be no surprise that our English equivalent holds the same sentiment. "Good-bye" is merely a contraction of the phrase "God be with you" or "God be..." It originated in the Middle and Old English, a bit before the 16th century. The contraction evolved over time but we can follow its progress in historical literature and letters. Beginning in the 16th century the phrase "God be with you" eroded to "God be wy you" then to "God b'y you" and numerous other versions until it finally settled on "God be" or, as we know it, "Good-bye" It helps to know that the word "good" has its origins directly from the Middle and Old English word "God," and possibly vice versa.
"Good day" and "good night" contain a similar sentiment, God be with you today or tonight. Over time "good-bye" or "God be with you" was shortened to "bye" meaning essentially the same thing, without mentioning God but merely stating "be with you."
So what does the modern version mean when we say, "b-bye?"
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